Hearing He Yuan’s question, Zhang Hai’s legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees.
“I… I don’t know, I really don’t know.”
He wanted to scratch his head, but his hands were restrained from behind, leaving him unable to move.
He Yuan raised his hand, signaling for them to release him. Zhang Hai immediately covered his face with his hands.
“I… I really didn’t know. He told me that if I handed the materials over to him, he’d give me a large sum of money. My mother is sick, my brother needs to get married… my family needs a lot of money.”
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry, Sister Shuyu. I didn’t mean to… I didn’t expect…”
Before he could finish, Ji Shuyu interrupted him.
“Zhang Hai, I brought you into the research institute myself. Ever since you arrived, I’ve never treated you poorly. I knew your family needed money, so every time I paid you, I gave you extra out of my own pocket.”
“If you were short on money, if you needed it, you could have told me. But you cannot steal the research results that belong to all of us. Do you realize this is against the law?”
Although some legal provisions were not yet fully comprehensive in this era, the state took the protection of research results very seriously.
The special materials from the island were intended for future use in military and aerospace fields.
Initially, the leadership had not prioritized them, but now that they did, the protection of these materials had been classified as top secret.
By doing this, Zhang Hai had effectively ruined his own future.
After Ji Shuyu finished speaking, she said no more. Soon, someone brought items from Zhang Hai’s workstation.
“Boss, we found the items, but the original documents have been taken.”
Ji Shuyu had anticipated this outcome.
The mole lurking in the shadows had used Zhang Hai as a scapegoat. While they were searching Zhang Hai, the real culprit had already escaped with the materials.
“That research data requires the island’s special materials. He Yuan, keep an eye out recently for anyone showing unusual interest in these research materials or offering high prices to acquire them.”
“The materials are here and won’t disappear. Even if they’ve taken the experimental data, without the original materials, they can’t accomplish anything.”
Ji Shuyu quickly made her decision. He Yuan nodded and gestured for his men to carry out the task.
As for Zhang Hai, he had committed a grave crime by leaking state secrets to others.
If those secrets were successfully researched and put into use, the only outcome awaiting him would be death.
After everyone left, Ji Shuyu sat in her chair, picked up a pen, and began writing in a notebook.
Fortunately, she had been solely responsible for the data the previous day, and she still remembered much of it. Every bit she could recall and transcribe would help.
Additionally, the original data was stored in the points mall. They would only need to run simulation experiments again later.
“Shuyu.” He Yuan called her name.
Ji Shuyu shook her head. “I need to transcribe the experimental data from memory now. I know what you’re going to say, but don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Her words cut off what He Yuan was about to say.
He knew how passionate she was about her research, so he didn’t try to stop her.
He could only go home, prepare supper for her, bring it back, and keep her company as she worked.
After the higher-ups learned that the research data had been stolen, they immediately activated the highest-level secrecy protection protocol.
The mole had no time to escape the island.
After all, boats leaving the island weren’t available every day. Carrying the stolen materials, he had nowhere to go and could only hide somewhere on the island.
The next day, some islanders who wanted to set out to sea were also stopped.
No one understood what was happening; they only heard that a very important confidential document had been lost within the military. Until the matter was clarified, no one was allowed to leave.
Instantly, the entire island was seized with anxiety.
After a night of intense effort, Ji Shuyu quickly transcribed the data from memory and handed it over to her team to reintegrate the data chain.
This time, only she and two of her most trusted assistants handled the process.
Moreover, He Yuan and his team had already investigated these two individuals and confirmed they had no suspicious financial transactions—they were trustworthy.
Aunt Qin, upon hearing about the incident, came to the research institute to see Ji Shuyu.
“It’s alright, Aunt Qin. Fortunately, the losses aren’t too severe. That person is definitely still hiding on the island. The higher-ups are watching very closely, so it will be difficult for them to escape.”
“We just need to successfully mass-produce this material before they can use the data. For them, that data will become useless.”
It was also fortunate that this happened on an island rather than on the mainland.
On the mainland, there would have been many ways to escape.
But on the island, without a boat, reaching the opposite shore was as difficult as climbing to the sky.
Hearing Ji Shuyu’s words, Aunt Qin finally nodded in relief.
“You’re still pregnant; you need to take care of your health.”
“I know, Aunt Qin. Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
After speaking with Aunt Qin, Ji Shuyu returned home.
On the way, she happened to run into her mother-in-law, Wang Shufen, who had come to check on her.
“Shuyu, finished work? Have you been at the research institute all day?”
Wang Shufen’s tone was filled with concern. Ji Shuyu quickly shook her head.
“I heard something happened on the island, and everyone’s on edge now. No one dares to go out. I wanted to come see you.”
With her daughter-in-law pregnant, Wang Shufen was naturally worried.
Just as Ji Shuyu was about to respond, she felt a chill run down her spine.
She turned her head, looking left and right, but saw nothing.
The feeling was exactly the same as when she was speaking with Aunt Qin at the research institute.
It was as if someone was watching her from behind.
But when she turned around, there was nothing there. Could it be the person who had stolen her research data?
It made sense—they were holding such important materials but couldn’t leave the island. They must be growing desperate.
Perhaps they might even resort to desperate measures, like a cornered beast.
“Mom, I’d like to rest a bit more today. Were you planning to bring these things to me? Just give them to me; I can take them home. You should head back quickly.”
Ji Shuyu reached out and took her mother-in-law Wang Shufen’s hand. After saying this loudly, she whispered to her mother-in-law to go find He Yuan.
Since she was already being watched, that person would eventually come for her.
Maybe they wanted to use her to leave the island, or perhaps they intended to force her to hand over the remaining materials.
If that was the case, she would lure the snake out of its hole—it all depended on whether this person would take the bait.
Although Wang Shufen didn’t fully understand, she trusted Ji Shuyu’s judgment. She nodded, handed the items to Ji Shuyu, and left.
After returning home, Ji Shuyu took out her electric baton and exchanged some additional self-defense items from the points mall.
Everything was ready; all that was needed was the east wind.
She hid in the bedroom, gripping the electric baton tightly.
The door was left slightly ajar, as if deliberately waiting for someone.
About fifteen minutes later, footsteps sounded outside.
Ji Shuyu swallowed hard, her palms sweating as she clutched the electric baton.
Just as the door was pushed open, He Yuan’s voice called out:
“Shuyu?”
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